I'm not sure that I know enough about the WNBA, or sports promotion in general, to intelligently express my reaction to your article and I'm still going to try. One of my very dearest friends from way back to junior high is the mother of Candace Parker. Did you know that Candace's mother is from Des Moines? Did you know her father played for Iowa State back in the 70s? Do you know who Candace Parker is? I think that in her early days of college basketball and in her WNBA career Candace was a "big deal" like Caitlin Clark. She is still a "big deal" in the WNBA and recently announced her retirement. I'm sure that she was widely known in her home state of Illinois and in the Chicago area where she grew up. I'm confident that Candace is well known to those who follow the WNBA and in the states where she has played professionally. I doubt many know of her in Iowa or nationally in the same way that we do Caitlin Clark. Candace is black. Iowa has a very direct connection to her and that has never, to my knowledge, been made public. Why is that? It's not the close connection like Clark playing for an Iowa team and, yet, don't we often, as Iowans, make a fuss over anyone close to greatness if they have an Iowa connection? Every outstanding woman athlete that has elevated the sport deserved and deserves the attention and promotion that Caitlin Clark has received. It makes sense that there would be hard feelings when, once again, we may have failed to recognize and promote the hard work and talent of others and the glaring factor appears to be race. It's complicated and we need to keep working on it.
Even if veteran black players have a legit beef about white players getting undeserved attention and praise, they are certainly cutting their noses off to spite their faces if they don't recognize that the "Clark Effect" puts butts in seats and money in their pockets.
It's not Clark's fault a small percentage of mouthbreathing racists view her as a "Great White Hope." She just wants to play ball and compete and her fellow players - of all races, persuasions and longevity in the league - should respect that.
It is important to remember the value of a product is determined by the consumer, not the producer. How you balance race in all this is a work in progress.
All of this is sound analysis. However, not only has her scoring gone well, she’s contributed to more than 230 points through goals and assists for her team this season, which is at least 130 more than any other current WNBA rookie. I’m not sure how the league and the press can ignore that.
I wouldn’t suggest the league press ignore anything. I am suggesting corporate media are slaves to clicks and algorithms and thus are powerless to raise up the great accomplishments of other players.
In that last statement we are in agreement. I also think this is the reason the for-profit media is generally hyping up Donald Trump’s statements and his chances to win. They are obsessed with clicks at the expense of journalism.
"I also think this is the reason the for-profit media is generally hyping up Donald Trump’s statements and his chances to win."
..?!? Huh..?!? A wide swath of "for-profit media" is actually hyping up Joe Biden's "chances to win".
I am not sure what the overall balance is ...but I am sure those "obsessed with clicks" are just as interested in beating down 'the orange man' ...as they derisively like to call him.
Thoughtful, well-organized analysis. You put yourself in someone else’s high tops. Resentment toward the white newbie who gets all the headlines would be an understandable reaction. You’re also correct that Clark is benefiting all the previously underpaid, undervalued experienced players and teams.
I'm not sure that I know enough about the WNBA, or sports promotion in general, to intelligently express my reaction to your article and I'm still going to try. One of my very dearest friends from way back to junior high is the mother of Candace Parker. Did you know that Candace's mother is from Des Moines? Did you know her father played for Iowa State back in the 70s? Do you know who Candace Parker is? I think that in her early days of college basketball and in her WNBA career Candace was a "big deal" like Caitlin Clark. She is still a "big deal" in the WNBA and recently announced her retirement. I'm sure that she was widely known in her home state of Illinois and in the Chicago area where she grew up. I'm confident that Candace is well known to those who follow the WNBA and in the states where she has played professionally. I doubt many know of her in Iowa or nationally in the same way that we do Caitlin Clark. Candace is black. Iowa has a very direct connection to her and that has never, to my knowledge, been made public. Why is that? It's not the close connection like Clark playing for an Iowa team and, yet, don't we often, as Iowans, make a fuss over anyone close to greatness if they have an Iowa connection? Every outstanding woman athlete that has elevated the sport deserved and deserves the attention and promotion that Caitlin Clark has received. It makes sense that there would be hard feelings when, once again, we may have failed to recognize and promote the hard work and talent of others and the glaring factor appears to be race. It's complicated and we need to keep working on it.
Thank you, Daniel, for helping us think this through.
Even if veteran black players have a legit beef about white players getting undeserved attention and praise, they are certainly cutting their noses off to spite their faces if they don't recognize that the "Clark Effect" puts butts in seats and money in their pockets.
It's not Clark's fault a small percentage of mouthbreathing racists view her as a "Great White Hope." She just wants to play ball and compete and her fellow players - of all races, persuasions and longevity in the league - should respect that.
It is important to remember the value of a product is determined by the consumer, not the producer. How you balance race in all this is a work in progress.
All of this is sound analysis. However, not only has her scoring gone well, she’s contributed to more than 230 points through goals and assists for her team this season, which is at least 130 more than any other current WNBA rookie. I’m not sure how the league and the press can ignore that.
I wouldn’t suggest the league press ignore anything. I am suggesting corporate media are slaves to clicks and algorithms and thus are powerless to raise up the great accomplishments of other players.
In that last statement we are in agreement. I also think this is the reason the for-profit media is generally hyping up Donald Trump’s statements and his chances to win. They are obsessed with clicks at the expense of journalism.
"I also think this is the reason the for-profit media is generally hyping up Donald Trump’s statements and his chances to win."
..?!? Huh..?!? A wide swath of "for-profit media" is actually hyping up Joe Biden's "chances to win".
I am not sure what the overall balance is ...but I am sure those "obsessed with clicks" are just as interested in beating down 'the orange man' ...as they derisively like to call him.
Thoughtful, well-organized analysis. You put yourself in someone else’s high tops. Resentment toward the white newbie who gets all the headlines would be an understandable reaction. You’re also correct that Clark is benefiting all the previously underpaid, undervalued experienced players and teams.